CHEF’S APPRENTICE

Tue, 27 Jul 2010

Young masterchef Cheryl Ann Ewing demonstrated last week that she certainly can stand the heat in the kitchen when she took up her week’s placement at popular local restaurant, Merchants.

Cheryl Ann was the recent winner of the Cook School Scotland’s Chef’s Apprentice competition – a cooking competition open to all local secondary schools which was inspired and sponsored by Craig Stevenson of Braehead Foods.

She fought off competition from eight other local youngsters to secure the star prize of a week’s work experience at Merchants, under the watchful eye of Executive Chef Alisdair Hood. At the end of her week’s placement Cheryl Ann had an opportunity to further demonstrate some of her newly acquired culinary skills by preparing her prizing winning signature dish for the Leader of the Council, Councillor Douglas Reid; Depute Provost John Campbell and Chief Executive Fiona Lees who had visited Merchants to congratulate Cheryl Ann and celebrate her achievements.

Councillor Reid said: “It was an honour to be able to sample Cheryl Ann’s outstanding cooking at Merchants. Our Chief Executive was involved in the Chef’s Apprentice competition as a guest judge along with the Cook School Scotland’s 3 star Michelin Chef Steven Doherty; Ralph Porciani, Executive Chef at Turnberry; Joe Queen, Executive Chef of Thistle Hotels and of course, Alisdair. Fiona had been extremely impressed by the standard of cooking on offer and our meal at Merchants was outstanding!

“It is extremely heartening that local businesses are willing to help our young people in such a positive way and I wish Cheryl Ann the very best in her future ventures.”

Alisdair Hood said: “It was really inspiring to see such enthusiasm and skill level from someone who is the future of our industry. Cheryl-Ann really enjoyed her time with us and I am sure she has learnt a lot from working in a professional kitchen. All my staff were really impressed with her dish and it sold exceptionally well over the week.”

Notes to Editor

Cheryl Ann prepared a breast of chicken stuffed with mushrooms, garlic and soft herbs wrapped in proscuitto ham with mozzarella baked potato

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